July 22-29, 2023 - AirVenture 2023
RVs
11,259 RVs built and flying!  The banner hanging in the Vans Aircraft Company tent.  Really, an incredible number when you think what it takes to build an RV from the kit. My friends and I were idly speculating what aircraft type had the most planes at AirVenture.  Of course we thought it must be RVs.  I think only the C-172 might come close.
   
My friend "Chef" who I haven't seen in a couple of years stands proudly by the RV-8 that he buit.  Chef is currently building a Harmon Rocket!
   
I need a nice plenum like this for my plane!
   
Of course, there were a bzillion RVs at AirVenture this year.  I walked through the homebuilt parking and camping early in the week and saw a lot of them.  Here is just a small snapshot of the RVs at AirVenture 2023.
 
I liked the paintjob on this RV-7 which won a Lindy award for best kit-build last year.
   
Look at that paint job!
   
Even the non-skid wing walk pad is custom and perfect.
   
A fancy Canadian RV-14 in the Hartzell booth.
   
Striking aquatic-themed RV-8.
   
 
   
Of course, the prototype RV-15 attracted a lot of interest.
   
 
   
Any RV with over 3,000 hours is deserving of recognition.
   
Paul Dye's RV-8 parked next to Beautiful Doll in from of the Homebuilders Shack.
   
Paul Dye's menacing RV-3:  "Tsamiyu".
   
For obvious reasons, we were particularly interested in RV-10s, especially the areas involving epoxy and fiberglass around the windshield, doors and cabin cover.
   
This U.S. Marine Corps-themed RV-10 was particuarly well done.
   
I really liked the paint job on this RV-10.  It turns out we knew the owner, and had visited his build in nearby Frederick, Maryland.  It sure did come out nice.
   
 
   
I wondered if this aqua-blue RV-3 was Tony Spicer's old "Tommy Boy" -- severely damaged by the tornado at the 2011 Sun 'N Fun -- but I don't think it is.
   
Unusual paint job on this one.
   
Colorful paintjob on this one.
   
Ah, by Friday afternoon homebuilt parking was practically empty.
   
The southwest corner of homebuilt camping when I've camped a couple of times was down to five planes when it had been 30+.   Saturday, Sunday and Monday is always exciting with homebuilt parking and camping almost full to capacity.  But then late in the week it's sad when so many planes have left.
   
 
   
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